UK Airfield Memorials

Ah ok, I understand now! Indidentally, I have put a photo of both Rivenhall memorials on the AiX thread now, bottom of page 4.

I was thinking more along the lines of actually on the airfield Richard. Rivenhalls existing memorial is in the pub car park away from the airfield.

There is already a memorial at Rivenhall Denis, so thats answered one of you points!
http://www.airfields.fotopic.net/rivenhall

The two main points I would like answered by Mr Bannerman are simple.

1)Do you intend to place one of your marker stones on an airfield which has an existing memorial, or one already planned?

2) Will the ABCT work closely with any Airfield Historical Group, or local history societies, Squadron Associations, Veterans groups, or other interested parties to provide the correct fitting memorial for any such airfield?

Over to you Mr Bannerman, I for one will be extremely interested in what you have to say:).

Kenneth Bannerman, Director General ABCT with the new ABCT Memorial at Rivenhall Airfield – 21st February 2009

This smacks of someone with a super ego – just reading his ”breaking news” headlines, out of six items he gets a mention in three –
• Memorial Unveilings – Kenneth Bannerman, will be unveiling four…more
• Kenneth Bannerman interview – Read Kenneth Bannerman’s interview with…more
• Businessman’s hobby sees him visit 1700 UK airfields – An article…more

Talk about massaging your ego!

And I totally agree – the ‘format’ of the memorial is all wrong. Almost every airfield memorial I have seen has the name of the place at the top. Then usually the units and then dates of operation.
And yes, it should have been unveiled by a veteran or local dignitary – not by the person behind the ‘project’.

Why didn’t this ‘enigma’ just erect a statue of himself? At least then, the poor folk who have been sucked in by ABCT will see what it is really all about….

I think Mr Bannerman does have an interest in airfields as he had two books published in 1990 & 1994

Towering Control
Airfields of Britain Vol 1

I have a copy of the later and the writing is somewhat enthusiastic and almost poetic in places.

I think the scheme could be good but needs to be rather more defined than it currently is.

Interesting that you have picked up on this David.
Here’s what we think about it at Airfield Information Exchange http://airfieldinformationexchange.freeforums.org/airfields-of-britain-conservation-trust-press-release-t2186.html

Personally I think it is a great idea to mark all airfields, which sadly at best has been poorly executed, and at worst a one man ego trip with little thought to personnel and history.

This is what I wrote on AIX..

‘Oh dear, I was supportive of this idea, and although I can see why it might not be practical to list all units and losses associated with the airfield, I do think the ‘unveiled by….’ bit is unbelievable. At the very least if one body sites the stones (ABCT), then another completely unrelated (ie not the director general, and prefferably a veteran or someone of aviation renown) should unveil and dedicate the memorial.
Also completely disagree with the heading, surely the airfield name should come first and in largest lettering, then followed by ABCT and web address in smaller lettering.
A wasted opportunity for a great idea, and could be construed as insulting to some – me thinks’

Hopefully REF will publish his pics of the unveiling here.